Trainer Noel Meade and jockey Davy Condon have teamed up with great success in recent times and the pair combined to win the Grade 2 Friends Of Navan 'Monksfield' Novice Hurdle at Navan today, with Fully Funded

The son of Aptitude, easy to back at 6/1, made all and battled gamely to hold the challenge of Gift Of Dgab by four and a half lengths.

Meade later stated "we bought him at the Newmarket Sales, having previously been rated 98 and regarded as something of a 'nearly' horse, on the Flat in France."

He added "he ran a good race on his first run for us but, like a lot of French breds, then went 'back' and disappointed before then winning at Wexford. I fancied him today and told the lads (More The Merrier Syndicate) that he'd win. He may come back for the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle here next - he can improve from this win."

Stan James Bookmakers introduced Fully Funded at 50/1 for the Neptune Investments Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

To use the hackneyed current political expression, the €27,300 first prize should easily keep the More The Merrier Syndicate 'fully funded until the middle of next year!'

Thomas Weekes.